Portable well-servicing apparatus



C. R. ATHY June 26, 1945.

PORTABLE WELL-SERVICING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 15, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet lIFJIGO 11- mnamgmmn llz m nl June 26, 1945. Q ATHY PORTABLEWELL-SERVICING APPARATUS Fi-led Sept. 13, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Aik mmm1120 June 26, 1945. c. R. ATHY PORTABLE WELL-SERVICING APPARATUS FiledSept. 15, 1943 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented June 26, 1945 PORTABLE WELL-SERVICING APPARATUS Clifiord R. Athy, Columbus, Ohio, assignor, by

mesne assignments, to The International Derrick & Equipment Company,Columbus, Ohio,

a corporation of Ohio Application September 13, 1943, Serial No. 502,145

2 (Jlaims.

The present invention provides an improved portable mast adapted for usein oil fields in various well-servicing capacities, such as inwellcleaning operations, deepening, swabbing, in the pulling of rods andtubing, and in the execution of other operations wherein an elevatedmast or pole structure is necessitated for the reception of awinch-operated cable line.

An object of the invention is to provide a telescopic mast structureadapted for pivotal mounting on an automotive vehicl or trailer unit andwherein a drum-actuated cable means of an improved character is utilizedto swing, in a readily controlled manner, the mast structure between itscollapsed horizontal position of transportation over the motor vehicleon which it is mounted, and an extended upright position suitable foractive operational uses.

Another important object of the invention is to simplify theconstruction of such portable telescopio masts and th means for raising,lowering or swinging the same, such means comprising a singlewinch-operated Working line, the latter being employed to effecttheoperations of swinging the mast structure about-its horizontalpivotal union with its portable base between lowered and uprightpositions and, also, for raising and lowering the upper telescopingsection of the mast with respect to its lower supporting and receivingsection.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved mechanicalmeans for retaining the upper section of the telescopic mast in itsposition.

extended'or elevated position to render the support of the upper sectionof the mast independent of said cable means.

For a further understanding of the invention, reference is to be had tothe following description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. l is a side elevational view of an automotive vehicle equipped witha collapsible f mast structure forming the present invention, said maststructure being disclosed in its horizontal position of transport; 7

Fig. 2 is a similar view disclosing in full lines the mast structure inits elevated and extended position suitable for active operation, and inbroken lines, a position occupied by the mast structure as it is beinglowered from its upright toward its lowered position;

Fig. 3 is an end elevational view;

Fig. 4 is a similar view, partly in vertical section, disclosing themechanism for moving the mast between extended and telescoped positions;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the mechanical means for retaining thetubular columns of the mast in their positions of extension;

Fig. 6 is a similar view disclosing said retaining means positioned toadmit of telescoping movement of the columns of the mast;

Referring to the drawings, the numeral l0 designates the bed or anautomotive vehicle H, the bed having mounted thereon an internalcombustion engine i2 which is utilized to operate a cablereceiving drumor winch i3. The bed l0 further embodies spaced longitudinally extendingsill beams is, which project rearwardly beyond and overhang the chassisof the vehicle ll. Arising from the beams it are spaced stationaryuprights IS, the latter having their upper ends united by a transverselyextending pivot bar l1.

Mounted for swinging movement on the bar I! are fixed collars i8 whichare carried by the spaced lower tubular members I9 of a mast struc tureM. These members are unitedby a lower transversely disposed bracing 20and at their upper ends by a transversely extending bar 2|. The lowermembers 59 of the mast are adapted to receive telescopingly a pair ofupper tubular members 22 which, through means hereinafter described, maybe extended relative to the lower members and located in such extendedpositions, to provide a mast having the requisite working height.However, when the upper members 22 are telescoped within the lowermembers l9, and the entire mast structur oscillated to assume thehorizontal position depicted in Fig. 1, the total length of the maststructure will be such as to comply-with the requirements of highwayoperating vehicles, thus enabling the apparatus to be transportedrapidly over highways and from one working location to another. When solowered, v

the forward end of the mast structureis received on the frame 23 mountedon the front of the vehicle il, affording the driver of the vehicleunobstructed vision and yet compactly arrangmg the mast structure overthe top of the vehicle.

To swing the mast structure from its horizontal inactive position oftransport, as illustrated in Fig. 1, to its elevated working positiondisclosed in Fig. 2; use is made of a pair of cables 24. 'I:hese cablesat one end are attached to the chassis I5 of the vehicle H and arepassed around guide pulleys 25' carried by the lower ends of the membersIS. The cables 24 are trained forwardly and have their forward endsengaged with a yoke 26. The center of this yoke is provided with a ring21 which is adapted for detachable engagement with a pivoted hook 28 ofa fall block 29.

Secured to the frame of th block 29 is one end of a winch-operatedworking line 30, the latter 1 being trained around the sheave wheels ofthe block 29, and also around corresponding sheave wheels of a crownblock 3| mounted on a cross beam 32 carried by the upper ends of thetelescoping mast members 22. From th crown block 3|, the line 30 extendsto a guide pulley 33 connected with the upright l6, and following itspassage around the pulley 33, the line is extended to the winch or druml3, around which it is wound and secured.

By winding the line 30 on the winch to decrease its effective length,forces are imparted to the cables 24 which cause the mast structure toswing bodily about the horizontal pivot bar I! until the same passesthrough atrue vertical plane and assumes the ofi-center position shownin Fig. 2. The bottom of the mast may be provided with jack screws 34'for engagement with foundation blocks 35.

With the mast structure so elevated, the height thereof may be extendedby movin the members 22 upwardly. A simple, yet efficient way foraccomplishing this resides in connecting the lower ends of the members22, as shown in Fig. 4, with the ends of a cable 36. The opposite endportions of this cable are arranged between the lower members IQ of themast structure and the upper members 22 while the intermediate portionsof the cable 36 ar trained over guide pulleys 31 mounted on the bar 2|and receive loosely a clamp pulley 39. The frame of the pulley 39carries a pair of hingedly united jaws 40, which have their inner facesgrooved as at 4| for clamping engagement with the working line 30, a'

manually operated screw 42 serving to maintain the Jaws securely in firmfrictional engagement with the working line. When the intermediateportion of the cable 36 is so clamped to the working line, it will beseen that by operating the winch l3 to wind the working line thereon,downward movement will be imparted to the pulley 39 to cause the ends ofthe cable 36 to be raised, carrying with them the extensible members 22of the mast.

When the members 22 have been raised to the desired height, the same aremechanically fastened or locked in their elevated positions so that theworking line may be free. This may be accomplished by forming themembers 22 with spaced rigid lugs 43, which are adapted to have seatingengagement with the upper surfaces of oscillating rings 43a supported bythe upper ends of the members I9. These rings are equipped withoperating handles 44. so that the rings may be turned manually, asindicated in Fig. 5, so that the under surfaces of the lugs 43 willengage with the upper surfaces of the rings.

. When it is-desired to release the members 22 so that they may betelescoped within the members l9, the rings 43a, as shown in Fig.6, arerocked in a reverse direction in order that grooves 45, provided in theinner surfaces of said rings. may be registered with the lugs 43, thusallowing a the upper section of the supporting mast to be loweredrelative to the lower section thereof.

The rings 43a are rendered accessible by providing one of the lowermembers I9 with ladder rungs, thereby enabling an operator to climb to aposition on the mast structure permitting of actuation of the rings, orto clamp the pulley 39 to or release the same from engagement with theworking line 30. Controlled oscillating movement ner.

the like which lends itself readily to transportation from one welllocation to another, and when a given location is reached, the mast maybe set up for operation in a quick, easily executed man- The apparatusis safe to operate and does not place undue hazards on the physicalsecurity of the attendants.

After the mast has been raised and its upper section extended forlocking engagement with the rings 43a,'the working line 30 may then beused for operating well-cleaning appliances, elevating rods or tubing,or in any other capacity where the mast is useful. The collapsing of themast and the swinging thereof to its lowered position may be effectedwith the same ease and factors of control as in the elevation andextension thereof.

I claim:

1. Well-servicing apparatus comprising a road vehicle, a mast structuremounted for swinging movement in a vertical plane, said mast structurehaving a telescopic upper section, a support carried by said vehicleadjacent to the rear end thereof and upon which support the lowerportions of said mast structure are pivotally united, a power drivenwinch mounted on said vehicle, a work line secured at one end to saidwinch, a crown block mounted on the upper end of the telescopic sectionof said mast and around which said work line is trained, cable meansconnected at their ends with the telescopic section of said maststructure, a pulley around which the intermediate portions of said cablemeans are'passed, means for detachably uniting said pulley with saidwork line, a pair of mast elevating cables having their inner endssecured to said vehicle, guides carried by the lower ends of saidmaststructure and aroundv which the intermediate portions of said cables arepassed, and a yoke joined with the outer ends of said elevating cables,said yoke having detachable engagement with said work line.

2. Well-servicing apparatus comprising a road vehicle, a mast structuremounted for swinging movementin a vertical plane, said mast structurehaving a telescopic upper section, a support carried by said vehicleadjacent to the rear end thereof and upon which the lower portions ofsaid mast structure are pivotally mounted, a power driven winch mountedon said vehicle, a work line secured at one end to said winch, a crownblock mounted on the upper end of the telescopic section of said mastand around which said work line is trained, a cable having its oppositeends connected with the telescopic section of said mast structure, apulley around which the bight pormaintaining the plate members of saidclamp with said work line.

in holding engagement 3 CLIFFORD R. A'I'HY.

